Sunday, November 30, 2008

To my loyal viewers, I'm sorry I've fallen behind again. I promise we'll be back on track beginning Monday and I'll announce the winner from the blog candy giveaway and I have something new for December. So come back tomorrow for all new creative ideas and exciting new stuff for December.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Finally back on track. I borrowed this card from my dear friend Miranda. She created this one using the June Stamp of the month from Close to my Heart. I love the colors she chose for this card. Thanks for today's creative idea Miranda!

OK, so in keeping with the blog candy theme of embellishing simple craft store cards, I went a step further and decorated these Michael's 1$ bin nesting boxes. I just added some paper and ribbon and wha lah, a cute set of gift boxes ready for use.

I didn't have time today at work to post, imagine they actually wanted me to work, what's up with that. So here's a couple more of the cards from my card workshop last Saturday.

All supplies are Close to my Heart. I used the same stamp set for all the cards. I just used different colors and made party hats instead of Christmas Trees. These really show the versility of Close to my Heart stamps.

Monday, November 24, 2008

I promised a picture of the blog candy give away and just can't get it to upload, so I will tell you what's in the give away with a picture hopefully to follow tomorrow. As stated earlier, the prize will include an assortment of embellishments from Close to my Heart, these will include Just Blooms Paper Flowers, Bigger Brads, Ribbon Rounds, Rub-on's, and of course a stamp set, With Love.

So submit your ideas by Friday and enter to win this fabulous gift package.

Gotta love technology!!! I'm having difficulty uploading pictures to my blog so I'm going to try tomorrow at work. I know I'm behind on my creative idea for the day and I promise I will have the days that're missing uploaded tomorrow. Hopefully the rest will go smoothly from home. I have four days off from work and plan to spend at least one day doing nothing but creating and trying the projects I've got listed to do. So stay tunned for more creative ideas and a new "special" coming December 1st.

Friday, November 21, 2008

OK, finally here's two of the five cards we're making at my card workshop tomorrow and tonight's creative idea.

I created two of each card to show the versility of Close to my Heart's new double sided background and texture papers. My customers will only get to make one card and they can decide which side to use.

So I've been waiting patiently for a month or so for the new Hello Kitty Big Shot machine from Sizzix to be available. Well, it was available on Sizzix.com a couple weeks ago and I ordered it that night, it finally arrived this past Tuesday, but I hadn't had a chance to actually play with it until tonight. Of course, I had to take pictures of my new little toy. For those who aren't Hello Kitty crazed, here's some pictures of it.

I love it!! I tried out the Sizzix Texturz plates and my Cuttlebug embossing folders, everything works great. The Sizzix Texturz plates aren't as deep an emboss as the Cuttlebug folders, but I really like them. The Cuttlebug folders actually tore my paper, maybe because they're designed for the Cuttlebug machine. I also didn't run the wax paper over the paper before I ran it through (I think I read that somewhere on the net, just like what you do with the traditional brass stencels). Will have to try that next time.

I'm all set for my card workshop tomorrow. I can't believe I've actually got everything done and it's not 2:00am. Maybe I'll actually have a chance to do something creative tonight. I'll post a couple of the cards that we're making tomorrow for tonight's creative idea.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

With my card workshop this Sat, I've still got things that need to be done, so I'm posting another card for today's creative idea. I really like this card. It's nice and bright. it's perfect for that someone special. All supplies are from Close to my Heart.

I hope to find some "me" time this weekend to try some of the projects I've put on the back burner the last month or so.

I think I might have confused everyone with the blog candy "rules". The winner will be drawn at random. I just wanted to see how everyone did with the idea of embellishing "premade" cards. So send your great cards in to be entered in the random drawing.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Creations by Laurie is announcing the first official blog candy give away. From now until Black Friday you can enter to win an assortment of Close to my Heart embellishments and a My Acrylix stamp set. Entering is easy, just create a card as outlined below and submit it to me. That's it. How easy is that. Please note that a picture of the winning entry will be posted on my blog.

Rules:

Take a premade card you can purchase at any craft store, these are the type that are designed on the front with little or no embellishments. Then you take a few minutes and add some ribbon, flowers, brads, and bling. You can stamp a sentiment to add to it if wanted. Post here with a link to the card and recipe (please include your email so I can contact you if you win), or email me at welajo@aol.com with your creation and recipe attached, type BLOG CANDY in the subject line. Please include the brand of the card you use.

Today's idea doesn't include a picture, I actually "borrowed" the idea from my good friend Miranda (check her blog out: http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/). She got the idea from another blog by Erin G( http://inkysmiles.blogspot.com/2008/10/five-minute-cards.html) The idea is to take a premade card you can purchase at any craft store, these are the type that are designed on the front with little or no embellishments. Then you take a few minutes and add some ribbon, flowers, brads, and bling. Stamp a sentiment to add to it and wha lah, the handmade look without alot of time. At this busy time of year who couldn't use some quick and easy crafting.

I'd love to see what you do with this idea, so I'm offering up some blog candy for this one. The way to play is simple, create a card using this simple plan and post here with a link to the card and recipe (please include your email so I can contact you if you win), or email me at welajo@aol.com with your creation and recipe attached, type BLOG CANDY in the subject line. I will draw one lucky winner from all entries. I'm leaving this open until "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving). This lucky winner will receive an assortment of embellishments and a My Acrylix stamp set from Close to my Heart.

OK, so I found out you could change the look of the countdown tree I have on the right side. They didn't offer pink anything (how rude) so I went with the closest color, red. I used silver to accent it. I think it looks pretty good for not being pink.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Here're are a couple cards I did for a worshop back in June. The supplies are all Close to my Heart. The flower stems are from the June stamp of the month (currently unavailable). I also used Just Blooms paper flowers attached with Black Bitty Brads, White grosgrain ribbon, and Flower Dimensional Element.

Monday, November 17, 2008

So with a Christmas card workshop coming up, I'm in the Christmas mood. I decided on this card because it's one of my favorites. I love the non traditional colors and this Stamp set is one of my favorites.

All supplies are from Close to my Heart. Stamp set is Magical Season, Paper pack is Simple Pleasures, Cocoa Ribbon Rounds.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Today's idea is a travel journal I made for our trip this year to Idaho. I used 9 X 12 white envelopes form the office supply store. I folded them in half and decorated them with Close to my Heart's Rustic Trail paper pack and Stickease. I used the Alphabet Solos for the title. I left the flaps of the envelopes open to store keepsakes from the trip and bound it together with my Bind it All. I journaled the events of each day. I still need to add the pictures I took, but thought I'd post it anyway. These little books can be used to record your family's holiday journey and would make great Christmas gifts.

Sorry this is a day late, I was so tired after getting home from my son's play, I feel asleep without posting. So here's a creative idea for yesterday.

This cute little Easter card was made with an old retired Close to my Heart wood stamp set and retired papers. I actually found the idea for it in a catalog from 2000 or 2001. It was very quixck and easy.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

I made this cute little box for prizes/gifts for my gathering guests. I used all Close to my Heart supplies, including the box. I took the box that the Close to my Heart distressing kit comes in and decorated it with papers from the Whooops a Daisy paper pack. I added Dimensional Elements colored with co-ordinating markers and covered some with paper. I added organdy and grosgrain ribbons to the handle for an extra touch.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I made the frame and pencil holder from 4 inch coasters. All other supplies are from Close to my Heart. More to Adore paper pack, white Just Blooms paper flowers died with Hollyhock and Blush re-inkers, Chocolate ribbon rounds, Chocolate and Baby Pink Bigger Brads, Chocolate, Hollyhock, and Baby Pink brads, and Silver Hinges. I used Liguid Glass to hold the pencil holder together as the ribbon is mainly decorative.

Monday, November 10, 2008

How about a tag for today. I made this one using Close to my Heart's Good Times paper pack. I'm not a huge fan of this particular pack, but I "made" myself step out of my comfort zone. It's hard to see, but there's a small hole below the arrow and a "wheel" inside. This allows you to pick the date you want in the circle.

Before I post the creative idea for the 8th I have to tell you about my day. First thing this morning I took my car to get some new tires for winter, so while that was being done I came back home to begin the "building" of the new loft style beds I bought for my kids. We first had to go to the mattress store to get new mattresses, who knew there were so many. Well, then it was back home again to start getting the huge bed boxes out of the living room, but before I could even start, I needed to remove the ceiling fan from my son's room so he wouldn't bump his head on it since the loft bed sits only a couple feet from the ceiling.

OK, I've never done anything like this before, so I read the directions that came with the fixture and checked out DIY network dot com to make sure I connected the wires right. After the power was shut off in the room I began disassembling the ceiling fan, that was a lot more work than I thought it would be. After I finally got it down it was time to connect the new wires. I got them connected and attached the little plastic cap thingies (wirenuts), put the new fixture up, turn the power back on and hit the switch. No sparks, no smoke, no hissing, so I guess I did it right. I'm so proud of myself for taking on this challenge.

My daughter and I started on her bed, there were a ton of pieces for this thing it came in two boxes and according to the website it weighed 300 pounds. I had these beds shipped across the country from New York, I just couldn't find what I wanted locally in Denver. After we got most of the pieces out it was time to get the car. After picking up the car we stopped at The Blackeyed Pea for dinner. We finally made it home again and got right to work. Well, 6 hours later, we have most of Jordan's bed up and the futon chair that goes with it done. There's still some more to do on hers and then we'll start over on Wesley's.

So I will post the creative idea for today in the next post and pictures of the beds after they're up.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

I know, I know, it's technically the 8th, but here's the idea for the 7th.

I liked the card tin I posted earlier, so I made another with a different color scheme. All products are Close to my Heart. Silhouette aper pack, Dimensional Elements Classic Alphabet (no longer available), Black ribbon rounds, Holiday buttons.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Good evening everyone. I'm sorry again that this is so late, I've had a crazy week. My son is in a producton of Willy Wonka and has been at practice every night until 6:00, so it's taking a bit longer to get "home" stuff done so I can play and post.

I decided on a fall color themed card tonight, since the weather here is starting to cool off and you can feel fall in the air.

All supplies are from Close to my Heart. Paper is from the retiring Best Friends Forever paper pack, Goldrush and Hollyhock cardstock and ink, Outdoor Denim ink, Garden Green brad, and Rustic Flowers My Acrylix stamp set.

This sketch is from my dear friend Miranda. I attended one of her workshops and we made a card similar to this one, I loved the idea so I copied it here with different papers and colors. Thanks Miranda!!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Here's another card I made using Originals Card Confidence Program from Close to my Heart. This book makes it so easy to create cards quickly, all the dimensions are listed for every piece as well as the steps to create the card.

Enjoy. . .

The paper is from The Paper Studio, flowers are Prima, brads are from Close to my Heart.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

This cute lunchbox tin has been altered using all Close to my Heart products. I used the Paper Garden paper pack, Just Blooms paper flowers and leaves, Polka Dot Blush Grosgrain Ribbon, and Dimensional Element letters colored with co-ordinating CTMH Markers. The tin was purchased at JoAnn's by my good friend and fellow CTMH consultant Miranda.

Monday, November 3, 2008

I created this card using Paper Studio patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon, and acrylic ribbon slide from Close to my Heart, Flowers from Prima, buttons unknown. The sketch came from the Originals Card Confidence book from Close to my Heart. I love this book, so many wonderful sketches and ideas for your cards. As you can see they work with any supplies you have.

OK, so it's after midnight, but I wanted to post the first project in the 61 days of ideas. I know Christmas is still weeks away, but I bought some really pretty paper today at Hobby Lobby and wanted to use it. So here are the 2 cards I made with some of my new paper.The "new" paper is the white patterned one from Paper Studio. It's hard to see but it's got Santa and trees on it. The red and green papers are retired Cranberry and Pnderosa Pine Background and Texture paper from Close to my Heart, flowers are from Prima, and the epoxy stickers are from Michael's dollar bin. I used a sketch from Split Coast Stampers for this one. Here's the link to the sketches: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=41

Saturday, November 1, 2008

OK, so I've decided that from today, November 1, through the end of the year I will post a project of some sort for inspiration. It could be a card, an altered item, a layout, who knows, but it will be something fun and hopefully inspiring. I will also be announcing a give away of blog candy (haven't yet thought out all those details, but it will be posted within the next week).

Check back often for more ideas and the details on how to win the blog candy.